Drain plug



Dec. 8, 1959 s. E. KlVELA 2,915,762

DRAIN PLUG Filed April 10, 1957 2 Sheets- -Sheet 1 g Stanley E. Kive/aINVEN TOR.

BY @406. W lm 5. E. KIVELA Dec. 8, 1959 DRAIN PLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 10, 1957 m a a y United States Patent DRAIN PLUG Stanley E.Kivela, Fond du Lac, Wis.

Application April 10, 1957, Serial No. 651,948

7 Claims. (Cl. 4-295) This invention relates to a drain plug and moreparticularly to a stopper assembly for a pull-out plug and chain, plugor mechanically operated stopper for a plumbing fixture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a plug assembly whichmay be installed as original equipment or may be used as a replacementassembly for the plug of a plumbing fixture, for example a basin, sink,a bathtub, laundry tub, etc.

Often pull-out plugs or pop-up plugs of the type which are mechanicallyoperated by a linkage become ineffectual or lost, and they must bereplaced. My invention provides a replacement assembly which cannot belost because it is mechanically connected to the plumbing fixture drain,and my assembly more effectively closes the drain, preventing leakage.Leakage is a problem with ordinary plugs, particularly when the plugsbecome some- What worn. My construction is such that when originallyinstalled it will remain closed in a sealed condition very effectivelyand tightly, and even after wearing a considerable length of time, theplug is automatically self-sealing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical assembly ofthe type to be described. I am aware of prior assemblies for plumbingfixtures, but in every instance prior structures that have been calledto my attention have been either complicated or impractical for someother reason.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a part of a plumbing fixture having aplug assembly constructed in accordance with the invention locatedtherein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure1 and showing the stopper assembly in a closed position;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar toFigure 2 but showing the stopper assembly in the opened position; and

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the .parts which are used inthe construction of my assembly.

In the accompanying drawings there is a plumbing fixture which typifiesany type of fixture which is capable of effectively using a plugassembly 12 which is constructed in accordance with the invention. Theillustrated fixture is a wash stand, however, it is to be clearlyunderstood that other fixtures, tanks, etc. may be the recipient ofassembly 12 or an assembly like it which would even vary in dimensionand size. The fixture 10 has a drain 14 connecting to sewer line 16 bystandard conneetor assembly 18. The drain consists of a tube that has aflared mouth 20 which functions as a seat for an ordinary stopper. 0

Assembly 12 consists of a stem 22 having a transverse plate 24 at itslower end which functions as a stop :by coming in contact withtransverse stop plate 26 that is attached to tube 14, extendingthereacross. Aperture 28 is formed in the stop plate 26 and is ofrectangular or oval formation to allow the stop 24 to be passed throughit when the stem '22 is oriented properly, but when the stem is rotatedapproximately a few degrees after passing through aperture 28, the stopassumes a stop function by contacting the lower surface of plate 26. Theupper end of stem '22 has a T-shaped anchor 32 thereon which is fittedbetween the prongs 34 and 36 that depend from cap 38. This cap has afinger grip 40 on the top surface thereof and annular grooves 42 on thebottom surface thereof. The prongs 34 and 36 have a slot 44 formed atthe root end thereof in order to function as a pocket to accommodate theextremity -of the T-shaped member 32 on stem 22. The prongs, then, holdcap 38 assembled on the upper end of stem 22, and the two earns 46 and47 formed on the sides of the T-shaped member 32 spread the prongsthereby aiding in the locking of the cap 38 on stem 22.

Seal 48 in the form of an annular collar is fitted on the lug 50 thatprotrudes from the lower surface of cap 38 and on which the prongs 34and 36 are integrally attached. Annular rib 54 on lug 50 fits in acorresponding groove 52 that is formed in the central passage 56 of seal48 thereby aiding in holding it firmly attached onto the cap 38. Thedepending neck 55 of seal 48 fitting over the ends of the slot 44 helpsto hold the cap and stem assembled and facilitates holding the seal 48secure on the cap 38. Annular ribs 57 and 58 on the top surface of seal48 snap into the grooves 42 of cap 38 to further aid in the holding ofthe cap assembled with seal 48. The side Wall 60 of the seal is taperedto fit within the mouth 20 which functions as a valve seat with the seal48 functioning as the valve member. Seal 48 may be made of an elastomeror rubber or some other synthetic material which has the characteristicsof rubber. Regardless -of the material of construction of seal 48, it ispreferred that the lower edge 64 thereof have a plurality of alternategrooves and ribs 66 and 67 formed radially therearound to open the drainin response to a short rise in position of the seal 48.

Coil spring 70 is concentrically arranged with stem 22 and seats on thetransverse stop plate 26 and also on the tapered sides of the prongs 34and 36. Accordingly, the stored energy of spring 70 tends always to pushthe seal 48 vertically upward in such direction as to unseat the same.Lateral cars 74 and 76 protrude from stem 22 and are of such size andshape as to be capable of pass ing through aperture 28 to a positionalternately below and above stop plate 26. The ears 74 and 76 havesloped upper surfaces that serve as cams when slid over ribs which formreaction means 80 and 82 that are formed on the lower surface oftransverse stop plate 26 and on opposite sides of aperture 28.

In use, after installation as shown in Figure 2, the finger grip 40 isrotated thereby rotating stem 22 and causing the cars 74 and 76 to alignwith aperture 28. At this position the ears are capable of passingthrough aperture 28 and this permits spring 70 to elevate the seal 48,and cap 38 until stop 24 bears against the lower surface of stop plate26. In this position the plug assembly is in the open condition (Figure4). Then, to close the plug assembly the cap 38 is pushed downwardly andat the same time it is rotated to align the ears 74 and 76 with aperture28 enabling them to pass through this aperture. Thereafter the plugconsisting of cap 38 and seal 48, together with stem 22, are rotatedbringing the upper surface of ears '74 and 76 against the ribs 80 and 82and camrning the stem, cap 38 and seal 48 downwardly to bring the sealinto engagement with its seat It is understood that variousmodifications, rearrangements, deviations, and omissions and additionsmay be made without departing from the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use in the drain tube of a plumbing fixture, a plug assemblycomprising a flexible annular seal adapted to seat in the drain tube, acap to which said seal is attached, a stem secured to said cap, a stopplate disposed in said drain tube and having an aperture through whichsaid stem passes, at least one locking ear protruding laterally fromsaid stem and disposed below said aperture when said stem is depressed,a spring reacting on said stop plate and said cap and tending to pushsaid stern upward to press said ear against the lower surface of saidstop plate while said seal is seated in the drain tube, and said springurging said stem upward and unseating said seal when said stem isrotated to a position wherein said ear is registered with said apertureand said ear is spring urged through said aperture.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said seal is constructed on anannular collar, said cap having a part projecting therefrom, meansengaging said part to fasten said seal and part together, and said sealhaving a central aperture through which said cap part is passed.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said seal has a plurality of ribs andgrooves at the lower end thereof which are adapted to compress when saidseal is pressed into said drain.

4. A stopper assembly for a plumbing fixture drain wherein there is atransverse stop plate having an aperture and ribs adjacent to saidaperture, said assembly comprising a stern having a stop at one end andlocking ears adjacent to said stop, said locking ears having earnsurfaces for engaging said ribs so that upon rotation of said stem thestem is moved axially downward within said drain by the action of saidears on said ribs, a seal, means at the upper end of said stem forattaching said seal to said stem and comprising a cap attached to saidstem, a pair of prongs depending from said cap and around which saidseal is fitted, and means on said stern adapted to spread said prongsand frictionally retain said prongs assembled with said stem.

5. A stopper assembly for a plumbing fixture drain wherein there is atransverse stop plate having an aperture and ribs adjacent to saidaperture, said assembly comprising a stem having a stop at one end andlocking ears adjacent to said stop, said locking ears having camsurfaces for engaging said ribs so that upon rotation of said stem thestem is moved axially downward within said drain by the action of saidears on said ribs, a seal, means at the upper end of said stem forattaching said seal to said stem and comprising a cap attached to saidstem, a pair of prongs depending from said cap and around which saidseal is fitted, means on said stem adapted to spread said prongs andfrictionally retain said prongs assembled with said stem, and meansincluding ribs and grooves further connecting said seal to said cap.

6. In a sink drain which has a transverse stop plate provided with anaperture and in a fixed position within said drain, a stopper assemblyfor said drain and comprising an elongated stern, a flexible seal, meansat the upper end of said stem fastening said seal to said stem so thatsaid seal and said stem are movable simultaneously, said seal movable toseating and unseating positions with respect to said drain, a transversemember protruding laterally from said stern and in one direction, saidlaterally protruding member disposed beneath said stop plate and adaptedto contact the bottom surface of said stop plate to limit the movementof said stern in a drain unseating direction, an ear protrudinglaterally from said stern and in a direction different from thelaterally protruding member and spaced from said laterally protrudingmember in a direction longitudinally of said stem, said ear beingmovable through said aperture when said stem is rotated to a positionthat said ear is aligned with said aperture so that said seal can beseated with respect to said drain, said ear engageable with a part ofsaid stop plate below said aperture when said stern is rotated aftermoving said ear through said aperture, a spring disposed about said stemand between said seal supporting means and said stop plate, and saidspring yieldingly urging said stem and seal axially and outwardly ofsaid drain and in a direction tending to unseat said seal so that thebias of said spring yieldingly presses said ear against the bottom partof said stop plate when said ear is moved through said aperture androtated to a position beneath said stop plate and alongside of saidaperture.

7. The stopper assembly of claim 6 wherein there is a cam beneath saidstop piate and engageable by said ear when said ear is rotated in orderto latch said seal firmly in the seated position.

References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS641,185 Borein Jan. 9, 1900 1,107,363 Schmidt Aug. 18, 1914 1,161,766Ferran Nov. 23, 1915 1,300,593 Fairchild Apr. 15, 1919 1,511,017 BinderOct. 7, 1924 1,630,352 Mortimer May 31, 1927 2,225,693 Francis Dec. 24,1940 2,524,823 Noyes Oct. 10, 1950 2,720,999 Gamundi Oct. 18, 1955

